umm hussain
Junior Member
There are manners and etiquettes of taking a shahadah and conducting one. This is to ensure the readiness of the person embracing Islam, with responsibilities and obligations as a Muslim.
Taking the shahadah is a purification process, purifying oneself from the filth of disbelief to the beauty and blessings of guidance. For any purification there is a process involved, for example there are manner of doing Wudu and Ghusul. For giving shahadah, it’s usually advisable to be conducted by an imam or a student of knowledge. However, anyone can also take up the challenge and meet the par, simply by following the Sunnah.
The following is the procedure as practiced by scholars and da’ees of Sunnah, and if one still in doubt then they should seek further advice from a scholar or student of knowledge.
1. The declaration of the actual Shahaadah: To say the shahadah - I believe that there is no God/gods but Allah and that Muhammad (SAWS) is the Prophet of Allah.
1. First you say it in Arabic slowly and let them pronounce after you word by word.
2. Let them then declare the statement in English/ own language
However, it should be noted that doing this is not a requirement (fardh) for conversion to Islam. Even if a person merely expresses his faith in Allah and His Prophet [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam], he is declared a Muslim. The Prophet [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] asked a slave woman once, ‘Where is Allah?’ She replied, ‘Up there’ (pointing to the sky). He then asked, ‘Who am I?’ She replied, ‘The Prophet of Allah.’ Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] declared her a Muslim. This clearly shows that the recitation of the actual Shahaadah is not a requirement for conversion but it is merely preferable. Thus there are many brothers and sisters who have embraced Islam without the benefit of being facilitated; this does not make them any less Muslim or of weak Iman. It's in the level of taqwah (having fear of Allah and seeking his Pleasures) and Amal (practicing the deen (Islam) that distinguishes between being a Muslim (having belief) and becoming a Mu’min) (attaining piety).
2. If one is entering the fold of Islam from the faith of Christianity, they need to add in their statement of convection that: ‘Issa (peace be upon Him (Jesus Christ)) in the servant and messenger of Allah’, Mary the mother of Jesus, is a noble and chaste woman who gave miraculous birth by the will of Allah.
3. Advise them to perform Ghusal (a complete bath according to the Sunnah), which is to have a shower/bath with the addition of the following:
1. Make the intention: ‘O’Allah I am establishing Ghusal in order to purify myself.
2. To gargle (rinse their throat) and rinse their mouth thrice.
3. To run water through their nose to clean it, thrice.
With this refreshing purification he should then resolve to comply with the principles and rules of Islam in their entirety. He should disown all forms of polytheism and false beliefs. He should reject evil and be righteous. Such rejection of evil and being righteous is one of the exquisites of the motto of Islam - that is, Laa Ilaha Illallah.
Allah states in the Holy Qur'an:
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 256-256:
256. لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 256-256:
256. Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
4. To seal the faith with two optional prays (salah) of thankfulness to Allah for His guidance and mercy and seek pardon and forgiveness in errors and mistakes will be committed in the challenge as a Muslim, and possessing the human limitations. Seeking strength and resolve from Allah in the new found life and praying to be continually guided as a Muslim to the ranks of the pious, and those whom have earned His pleasures. The first salah will be an intimidating experience if one is stressed and anxious to be perfect. Allah is merciful and so be lenient on yourself and allow yourself the learning experience of walking before running. Make the basic movements of salah, from takbir to salaam and all that is in between. You may recite simple tasbeeh (praises of Allah) throughout the whole prayer whilst you are still learning the Salah and the Quran.
Sura 59 - Al-Hashr [Exile, Banishment] Verse 24-24:
24. هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الأسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Sura 59 - Al-Hashr [Exile, Banishment] Verse 24-24:
24. He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 1-1:
1. يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 1-1:
1. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: to Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs praise: and He has power over all things.
5. Examples of Dhikir/ tasbeehs to be recited in and out of salah as a continuous remembrance of Allah.
Muslim and at-Tirmidhi wrote:
Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Shall I tell you the words that Allah loves the most?" I said: "Yes, tell me, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "The words dearest to Allah are: subhanAllah wa bihamdihi. (Glory be to Allah and Praise Him).
Sahih Muslim wrote:
Kitab Al-Salat - Book 4:2073
Whoever recites [the below] one Hundred times, a thousand good deeds are recorded for him or a thousand bad deeds are wiped away. La Hawla wa la Quwatta illa Billah (There is no Might or Power except with Allah)
The basic criteria of being a Muslim is the shahadah - (say the shahadah) - I believe that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad (SAWS) is the Prophet of Allah. Like any other belief, there are consequences to this belief. The consequences of the Shahadah is that we accepted that Allah is the one who should define our behavior and tell us how to behave and that we should always obey Allah, as conveyed through the Qur'an and the actions of our Prophet which form the basis of our Hadith.
In consequence, if someone was to assert that you could be a Muslim in heart only, without the belief manifesting itself in behavior, then the strength of belief in the original statement must be weak or flawed in the first place. The way belief is manifested in the practice and behavior of the individual. It's an area is neglected as; we sometimes become preoccupied with other issues.
Welcome to Islam O' True Muslim! The purpose of guidance is to remain in the true path by seeking the knowledge of Islam according to the Qur'an and Hadith (Sunnah -way of the Messenger). Due to the lack of knowledge among the Muslims form these two unique sources; there have developed many different sects in Islam. Each calls itself the real sect and blames the other of falsehood. This confuses many Muslims as to which is upon the truth, and they start to blame scholars and all sects in general. However, there are two things upon which the Muslim nation will not argue about:
1. The Qur'an being the book of Allah
2. Prophet Muhammad being the true Messenger of Allah.
Therefore let us observe what the Prophet of Allah himself has to say about the sects of his nation: "This ummah (nation) will split into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the Hellfire, except for one." They (his companions) asked: "And which is that sect?" He said: "(The ones that adhere to) That which I and my Companions are upon today" (At-Tabaraanee in his Mu'jam-us-Sagheer #724). Hence, the hadith proves that we, the Muslims, should adhere to the way of the Messenger and his companions and that truly is the sect that is upon the truth. In another hadith the Prophet states: "I am leaving behind among you something which, if you adhere to it, you will not go astray after that." (al-Haakim; Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2937).
Therefore, all the conflicts and fights between these sects can be resolved from the Qur'an and Sunnah, rather this is commanded by Allah Himself in the Qur'an:
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلا
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
and
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 56-56:
56. وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 56-56:
56. So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy.
The above verses of the Qur'an and the ahadith prove that we should adhere to the Qur'an and Sunnah in all matters, and if some matter is not found in these two sources, then we should follow the example of the companions of the Prophet in that matter.
Your Brother in Islam,
Syed Masrur
Islamic Mentor
Taking the shahadah is a purification process, purifying oneself from the filth of disbelief to the beauty and blessings of guidance. For any purification there is a process involved, for example there are manner of doing Wudu and Ghusul. For giving shahadah, it’s usually advisable to be conducted by an imam or a student of knowledge. However, anyone can also take up the challenge and meet the par, simply by following the Sunnah.
The following is the procedure as practiced by scholars and da’ees of Sunnah, and if one still in doubt then they should seek further advice from a scholar or student of knowledge.
1. The declaration of the actual Shahaadah: To say the shahadah - I believe that there is no God/gods but Allah and that Muhammad (SAWS) is the Prophet of Allah.
1. First you say it in Arabic slowly and let them pronounce after you word by word.
2. Let them then declare the statement in English/ own language
However, it should be noted that doing this is not a requirement (fardh) for conversion to Islam. Even if a person merely expresses his faith in Allah and His Prophet [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam], he is declared a Muslim. The Prophet [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] asked a slave woman once, ‘Where is Allah?’ She replied, ‘Up there’ (pointing to the sky). He then asked, ‘Who am I?’ She replied, ‘The Prophet of Allah.’ Rasulullah [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] declared her a Muslim. This clearly shows that the recitation of the actual Shahaadah is not a requirement for conversion but it is merely preferable. Thus there are many brothers and sisters who have embraced Islam without the benefit of being facilitated; this does not make them any less Muslim or of weak Iman. It's in the level of taqwah (having fear of Allah and seeking his Pleasures) and Amal (practicing the deen (Islam) that distinguishes between being a Muslim (having belief) and becoming a Mu’min) (attaining piety).
2. If one is entering the fold of Islam from the faith of Christianity, they need to add in their statement of convection that: ‘Issa (peace be upon Him (Jesus Christ)) in the servant and messenger of Allah’, Mary the mother of Jesus, is a noble and chaste woman who gave miraculous birth by the will of Allah.
3. Advise them to perform Ghusal (a complete bath according to the Sunnah), which is to have a shower/bath with the addition of the following:
1. Make the intention: ‘O’Allah I am establishing Ghusal in order to purify myself.
2. To gargle (rinse their throat) and rinse their mouth thrice.
3. To run water through their nose to clean it, thrice.
With this refreshing purification he should then resolve to comply with the principles and rules of Islam in their entirety. He should disown all forms of polytheism and false beliefs. He should reject evil and be righteous. Such rejection of evil and being righteous is one of the exquisites of the motto of Islam - that is, Laa Ilaha Illallah.
Allah states in the Holy Qur'an:
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 256-256:
256. لا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَى لا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللَّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
Sura 2 - Al-Baqara [The Cow] Verse 256-256:
256. Let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from Error: whoever rejects evil and believes in Allah hath grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold, that never breaks. And Allah heareth and knoweth all things.
4. To seal the faith with two optional prays (salah) of thankfulness to Allah for His guidance and mercy and seek pardon and forgiveness in errors and mistakes will be committed in the challenge as a Muslim, and possessing the human limitations. Seeking strength and resolve from Allah in the new found life and praying to be continually guided as a Muslim to the ranks of the pious, and those whom have earned His pleasures. The first salah will be an intimidating experience if one is stressed and anxious to be perfect. Allah is merciful and so be lenient on yourself and allow yourself the learning experience of walking before running. Make the basic movements of salah, from takbir to salaam and all that is in between. You may recite simple tasbeeh (praises of Allah) throughout the whole prayer whilst you are still learning the Salah and the Quran.
Sura 59 - Al-Hashr [Exile, Banishment] Verse 24-24:
24. هُوَ اللَّهُ الْخَالِقُ الْبَارِئُ الْمُصَوِّرُ لَهُ الأسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَى يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
Sura 59 - Al-Hashr [Exile, Banishment] Verse 24-24:
24. He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or Colours). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare His Praises and Glory: and He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 1-1:
1. يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأرْضِ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Sura 64 - At-Taghabun [Mutual Disillusion, Haggling] Verse 1-1:
1. Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, doth declare the Praises and Glory of Allah: to Him belongs dominion, and to Him belongs praise: and He has power over all things.
5. Examples of Dhikir/ tasbeehs to be recited in and out of salah as a continuous remembrance of Allah.
Muslim and at-Tirmidhi wrote:
Abu Dharr reported that the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Shall I tell you the words that Allah loves the most?" I said: "Yes, tell me, O Messenger of Allah." He said: "The words dearest to Allah are: subhanAllah wa bihamdihi. (Glory be to Allah and Praise Him).
Sahih Muslim wrote:
Kitab Al-Salat - Book 4:2073
Whoever recites [the below] one Hundred times, a thousand good deeds are recorded for him or a thousand bad deeds are wiped away. La Hawla wa la Quwatta illa Billah (There is no Might or Power except with Allah)
The basic criteria of being a Muslim is the shahadah - (say the shahadah) - I believe that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad (SAWS) is the Prophet of Allah. Like any other belief, there are consequences to this belief. The consequences of the Shahadah is that we accepted that Allah is the one who should define our behavior and tell us how to behave and that we should always obey Allah, as conveyed through the Qur'an and the actions of our Prophet which form the basis of our Hadith.
In consequence, if someone was to assert that you could be a Muslim in heart only, without the belief manifesting itself in behavior, then the strength of belief in the original statement must be weak or flawed in the first place. The way belief is manifested in the practice and behavior of the individual. It's an area is neglected as; we sometimes become preoccupied with other issues.
Welcome to Islam O' True Muslim! The purpose of guidance is to remain in the true path by seeking the knowledge of Islam according to the Qur'an and Hadith (Sunnah -way of the Messenger). Due to the lack of knowledge among the Muslims form these two unique sources; there have developed many different sects in Islam. Each calls itself the real sect and blames the other of falsehood. This confuses many Muslims as to which is upon the truth, and they start to blame scholars and all sects in general. However, there are two things upon which the Muslim nation will not argue about:
1. The Qur'an being the book of Allah
2. Prophet Muhammad being the true Messenger of Allah.
Therefore let us observe what the Prophet of Allah himself has to say about the sects of his nation: "This ummah (nation) will split into seventy-three sects, all of which will be in the Hellfire, except for one." They (his companions) asked: "And which is that sect?" He said: "(The ones that adhere to) That which I and my Companions are upon today" (At-Tabaraanee in his Mu'jam-us-Sagheer #724). Hence, the hadith proves that we, the Muslims, should adhere to the way of the Messenger and his companions and that truly is the sect that is upon the truth. In another hadith the Prophet states: "I am leaving behind among you something which, if you adhere to it, you will not go astray after that." (al-Haakim; Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2937).
Therefore, all the conflicts and fights between these sects can be resolved from the Qur'an and Sunnah, rather this is commanded by Allah Himself in the Qur'an:
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الأمْرِ مِنْكُمْ فَإِنْ تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الآخِرِ ذَلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلا
Sura 4 - An-Nisa [Women] Verse 59-59:
59. O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.
and
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 56-56:
56. وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
Sura 24 - An-Noor [The Light] Verse 56-56:
56. So establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and obey the Messenger; that ye may receive mercy.
The above verses of the Qur'an and the ahadith prove that we should adhere to the Qur'an and Sunnah in all matters, and if some matter is not found in these two sources, then we should follow the example of the companions of the Prophet in that matter.
Your Brother in Islam,
Syed Masrur
Islamic Mentor